"Even baseball players can't watch the four-hour game"…Why was the current chief executive active in introducing PeachCom

Jul 17, 2024

'Even baseball players can't watch the four-hour game'…Why was the current chief executive active in introducing PeachCom
A game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Hanwha Eagles at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 11th. Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon is appealing to the referee. Gocheok = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.07.11/
"The players should feel it."

On the 15th, KBO distributed pitchcom, a device that can exchange signatures between pitchers and catchers during the game, to 10 clubs. Pitchcomb will be used from the 16th.

First of all, we're going to have a period of adaptation. It was not mandatory to use, but to use it during game training according to the judgment of each team's field.

Hanwha Eagles coach Kim Kyung-moon, the 10th team's oldest manager, said, `I think the catcher is unfamiliar at first. The pitcher (Ryu) Hyun-jin is also (Ryu) Hyun-jin, I think I'll have to press it in several games because I came from the United States. It would be nice to get used to it because it would be simple. However, I think the catcher will be busy for a few games. I think I'll need a few games before I get used to it."

Hanwha is scheduled to use Pitchcom in earnest from the match against Changwon NC Dinos on the 17th, with the game canceled due to rain on the 16th.

Opinions are currently divided on the introduction of PitchCom. Some coaches have also announced plans to use them during training and start adapting in earnest in camps, rather than using them right away due to adaptation problems.

Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said, `I'm not going to use it right now. The game is directly related to each ball in each game. I think it's natural to reduce the game time in the long run, but I'm not going to do it right away." Samsung coach Park Jin-man also said, `We need to watch it. We didn't prepare it from the beginning, and it could be counterproductive."

NC manager Kang In-kwon said, `I think I'm not used to it yet, so I think I'll have to train and start with the starting pitcher in the bullpen. I don't think it's going to be easy to start right away. "I want to write PeachCom actively. Some pitchers have poor eyesight. If the players are not very uncomfortable, I am thinking about using it actively."

On the other hand, coach Kim plans to actively use it from the beginning. Director Kim said "If you're not going to do it, I don't know, but if you say you have to do it, you'd better do it quickly."

It was clear why head coach Kim was active in Pitchcom. It means that you will join the 'Speed-up'. When asked what the purpose was, coach Kim said, "(The introduction of pitchcom) is to show the fans a fast game and a fast game. Even baseball players can't watch the four-hour game. "The game time is also decreasing a lot. From the players' point of view, playing 20-30 minutes more for 140 games and ending in three hours are different in physical exhaustion. It's good for players, too. If you're doing it anyway, it's better to do it quickly."

Coach Kim continued, `We have to feel why the players have to play fast as they play. It's already started. It's the first time for everyone to start, so we have to forget everything and start," he stressed.

'Even baseball players can't watch the four-hour game'…Why was the current chief executive active in introducing PeachCom
피치컴 세트. Photo courtesy =KBO
On the other hand, the PitchCom set consists of a transmitter that inputs a sign and a receiver that can hear it by voice. The transmitter has nine buttons, and if you enter the preset pitch type and pitch position button in order, it is transmitted to the receiver as a voice. The transmitter can only be worn by pitchers or catchers, and in the case of pitchers, it is worn on the wrist using a glove or protector. In the case of a catcher, it can be worn at the desired position by using a protector on the wrist and knee.

The receiver is worn on the inside of the hat. In addition to pitchers and catchers, up to three fielders on the ground can be worn.

KBO expects that the pitchcom will enable the defense team to exchange signatures smoothly during the game, which will be effective for fans to watch comfortable games such as shortening the game time", he explained.



bellstop@sportschosun.com